Spring has yet to arrive here

Ed Mathews

March 24, 2013 01:17 AM

Ed Mathews

March 24, 2013 01:17 AM

Where is spring? It has certainly not made an appearance in Erie yet, and there is not much we can do about it. We keep hearing people ask what was up with the groundhog, which back on Feb. 2 predicted an early spring. Worst of all, the forecast says that spring won't be coming any time soon. ... Today is Palm Sunday, which for Christians marks the beginning of Holy Week. Unless we get a warm spell this week, there probably won't be too many Easter bonnets on March 31. ... Tom and Kathy Rafferty are proud of Tom's daughter-in-law, Karen Rafferty, who was recently married to Tunch Ilkin, a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle who currently serves as the team's television and radio analyst. Ilkin, who was born in Istanbul, Turkey, attended Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Ill. Karen is affiliated with General Motors. She used to race cars but is now in training for triathlons, specifically the one in Chicago on Oct. 7. Tunch and Karen will make their home in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington area.

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Our deepest sympathy to the family of Ham Strayer, 94, who passed away March 16. Ham was involved in community projects throughout the region, and was also a leader in the Republican Party. We recently spent time together at St. Mary's West, while we were recuperating from hip surgery, and we enjoyed many lunches and interesting conversations. ... With March Madness in full swing, we wonder how all those college basketball players get away during the season to play so many games. Right now the best ones are in the middle of the biggest tournament of the year. We imagine all the schools have tutors for the players when they miss classes. Last year's NCAA champion, Kentucky, did not even make the tournament, then it lost in the first round of the NIT to Robert Morris. ... The sad death of 17-year-old Jacob Samusenko, whose body was found last week in the bay, is a warning about being careful around the water. When Jacob, who loved walking around the bayfront, disappeared in January, scores of people searched for him. ... Erie schools Superintendent Jay Badams, who agreed to a contract extension, is not taking a salary increase. The new contract eliminated some perks, such as a $4,800 vehicle stipend. Badams has done a fine job and will be paid $185,000 annually through March 2018. Erie is fortunate to have him.